At the JMP–L center, the visitors were welcomed by JMP–L staff, Board and Advisory Committee members, and benefactor Mr. Hovig Kurkjian. Words of welcome and explanations were given about the work of the center, as they toured the different departments. A commemorative gift was handed to the Catholicos.

The Catholicos shared stories from his experiences with JMP–L and its late Director Mr. Haig Tilbian, during the time he served as Prelate. His Holiness Aram I acknowledged the great contribution that JMP–L has made in the Lebanese-Armenian community.  He said that the JMP–L benefactors are national benefactors, and that Armenian communities in the diaspora need to be supported and maintained. He expressed his hope that the JMP head office will increase the contributions to JMP–Lebanon.

A special commemorative cake was cut and shared with the guests and beneficiaries present in the reception hall.

You can view the short report on the Armenian news on Wednesday’s Armenian report at 12:05 to 13:14 minutes into the Armenian news on OTV, and you can read it in Aztag newspaper, or in Ararad or Zartonk daily newspapers on October 20 and 21, 2016 respectively.

• Event program (PDF)
• Welcome address by the chairperson of the JMP–L’s Beirut Advisory Committee (PDF)
• Speech by the JMP–L director (PDF)
• Message by His Excellency Archbishop Father Nishan Karakeheyan, a former member of the Beirut Advisory Committee of JMP-L
• Thank you message by JMP–L director (PDF)

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, JMP–L has published a book titled A Mission of Hope (PDF).
A 12-minute DVD has also been prepared, highlighting the major achievements of JMP–L during the last 50 years.

• Thanks to the continued partnership with the Happy Childhood Foundation (previously known as Philippe Hatem Foundation for a Happy Childhood), JMP–L assisted 64 children (aged 2 to 18) from 43 vulnerable families to meet some of their basic needs (food, clothing, school books, uniform, and sometimes rent). The Foundation also gave funding for home appliances and recreation. It also provided a special grant to help 30 children from 21 families make their school payments in order to keep them in school. On 4 January 2015, the Foundation and the JMP–L social worker organized a trip to the circus, with the participation of around 40 children, teens, and accompanying adults.

• During 2015, eight educational meetings were held as part of the Improving Health Care for Women Through Education project. On average, 25 women continued attending the sessions under the theme of “Prevention Saves Lives”:

1. “Internet and modern technology” by computer scientist Mr. Shant Demirjian.
2. “Family relations between mother and child, husband and wife” by psychologist Mrs. Rozine Moughalian.
3. “Kidney stones” by general physician Dr. Garo Mahserejian.
4. “Asthma and ENT diseases” by Dr. Raffi Jilhagopian.
5. “Spiritual reflection about the values of a Christian family” by Bible teacher and leader of women’s and youth groups Mrs. Esther Kilaghbian.
6. “Dental hygiene and mouth diseases” by Dr. Hovig Ashkarian.
7. “Brief history of the Armenian Genocide,” on the occasion of its centennial, by political editor of Aztag Daily Mr. Vahram Emiyan.
8. “Diabetes and dyslipidemia” by Dr. Elie Tashdjian.

Besides the educational sessions, the women’s group went on a trip to the museum in the Armenian Catholicossate in Antelias, followed by lunch at a restaurant, on 2 June 2015.

• On the occasion of Easter, on 9 April 2015, two JMP–L social workers and two other staff members, accompanied by Rev. Soghomon Kilaghbian from the Armenian Evangelical Church, visited the Armenian inmates suffering from mental disorders, in Fanar hospital. They were joined by parents of some of the patients.
• In the 2014–15 academic year, 16 girls participated in the Teenage Girls’ Self-Development Program. They attended vocational training courses at Mesrobian Technical College, which gives 50 percent tuition discount to JMP–L beneficiaries. During the year, 14 sessions of group work and activities were organized for the teenage girls. This year’s discussion topics included personal identity, truthfulness, Valentine’s Day and love, the “Good News” of our Lord, etc. Some of the sessions were presented by the responsible social worker, while others by group members after doing some research. As part of the program, the annual outing of the teenage girls and their mothers took place on 25 July 2015, with the participation of 12 teens and 10 mothers. This year, the day trip included a trip to the Cedars, pilgrimage to St. Charbel Church, St. Elisha Monastery in Qannoubine Valley, discussions, snacks and lunch.
• The elderly who receive various forms of assistance by JMP–L celebrated Grandparents’ Day with an outing on 20 June 2015. The event was organized by the NGO Kibarouna at the Palace of Conferences, under the
  patronage of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Elder’s Care and Protection.

• On 22 September 2015, 24 elderly and two JMP–L social workers visited the newly erected Armenian Genocide Museum at the Birds’ Nest Orphanage in Byblos. The supervising priest, Father Bsag Tupperjian, gave them a brief explanation. They then had lunch in a restaurant in Batroun.

• The annual children’s Christmas and New Year party organized by the Women’s Committee of the JMP–L Community Development Program was held on 26 December 2015 in the courtyard of the St. Sarkis Church.
  The event attracted 200 children, who were entertained by the “Ourakh Daretarts” (“Happy Birthday”) Group. For more information about the event (in Armenian), read the article published in Aztag Daily.

• Women involved in the Women’s Committee of the JMP–L Community Development and in the Health Development programs, along with JMP–L staff members, organized a Christmas Bazaar on 22 December 2015, on the premises of JMP–L Center’s newly renovated Kurkjian Wing. For more information about the event (in Armenian), read the article published in Aztag Daily.

• A great achievement was the

  

  reconstruction and renovation of the Kurkjian Wing adjacent to the JMP–L Center. It was made possible with Mr. and Mrs. Hovig and Maral Kurkjian’s generous donation. The Wing’s opening took place on October 25, 2014 in the presence of the donors, Armenian community leaders, and JMP–L friends. The Wing will mainly be used for the Teenage Girls’ Self-Development Program, as well as elderly gatherings, and other meetings. For more information about the event (in Armenian), read the article published in Aztag Daily.

• Thanks to the funding received from a new partner, the Philippe Hatem Foundation for A Happy Childhood, JMP–L assisted 65 children (ages ranging from 2 to 16) from 38 vulnerable families to meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. The objective of the Foundation is to give children opportunities to have a happier childhood “now.” In October 2014, the Foundation also helped cover the school fees and related expenses of 10 children who had been left out of school for financial reasons. In September 2014, some of the children gathered for a birthday and “Back to School” party, where they enjoyed a balloonist’s creations, face-painting, games, food, and entertainment by four volunteers from the Armenian Evangelical Social Center. Funding from the Foundation also helped JMP–L to provide assistance for the participation of 12 children to the summer camp organized by the Armenian Evangelical Christian Endeavor Union.

• The chocolate-making training for young mothers with young children was successfully completed. This project was organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs, the Municipality of Bourj Hammoud, and Office Du Developpement Social for the duration of the 2013–14 academic year. Its objective was to empower young mothers and enable them to work and subsidize their family income.

• Throughout 2014, JMP–L continued participating in the regular meetings of representatives of Armenian NGOs in order to provide coordinated assistance to Syrian-Armenian refugees. These information sharing and coordination meetings mainly involved the refugee crisis in the town of Kessab (the mostly Armenian-populated town in northwestern Syria, near the border with Turkey), the donation of school books to Syrian refugees, and the distribution of food and hygiene packages. Also, during 2014, JMP–L assisted 275 Syrian-Armenian refugees, by providing medications for chronic illnesses, securing discounts and offering partial financial assistance for hospitalization and/or minor medical expenses (such as diagnostic tests), and networking with other NGOs on their behalf. In addition, financial assistance was distributed to 310 refugees from Kessab, enabled by fundraising activities done in Armenia.

• During 2014, 10 educational sessions were held as part of the Improving Health Care for Women Through Education project. A group of 25 women participated in the following sessions, themed “Prevention Saves Lives”:

1. “Medication’s usage, compliance and side-effect” by pharmacist Mrs. Nanor Tashdjian.
2. “Nutritive food and kitchen’s secrets” by nutritionist Mrs. Ani Deirmenjian-Jertidian.
3. “Menopause, uterine fibroses and ovarian cysts” by gynecologist Dr. Vicken Nenejian.
4. “Metabolic syndrome” by Dr. Elie Tashdjian (family medicine).
5. “Gastrointestinal diseases” by specialist Dr. Gostan Yapoudjian.
6. “Breastfeeding” by Word Vision trainees and trainer.
7. “Sects and Christian living principles” by Father Der-Mgrditch.
8. “Armenian traditions” by Mrs. Houry Ghazarian.
9. “Physiotherapy in home conditions” by physiotherapist Dr. Razmig Boejekian.
10. “Depression and anxiety” by psychiatrist Dr. Maguy Kebabjian.

• In the 2013–14 academic year, 16 girls participated in the Teenage Girls’ Self-Development Program. They attended vocational training courses at Mesrobian Technical College, which gives 50 percent tuition discount to JMP–L beneficiaries. During the year, around 30 sessions of group work and activities were organized for the teenage girls. Specifically, the activities included spiritual uplift, preparation of and eating a light meal, watching and then discussing video clips or short movies, etc. Discussion topics included nutrition, resolving relational tensions and problems, building trust and friendships, love, women’s rights and abuse, etc. Some of the sessions were presented by the responsible social worker, some by group members after doing some research, and others by invited speakers. As part of the program, a day trip to the North (Mezyara and Lake Benesha’a) was organized on 26 July 2014. It was attended by teenagers and their mothers.

• On 2 January 2014, two JMP–L social workers, accompanied by Father Sarkis Sarkissian from the Armenian Prelacy, visited the Armenian inmates suffering from mental disorders in Fanar hospital. They were also joined by parents of some of the patients. The inmates gathered in a hall and talked with the visitors. Father Sarkissian spoke about the meaning of Christmas. Later, they sang Armenian songs and prayed. Christmas gifts, donated by the Municipality of Bourj Hammoud, were distributed to the inmates.

• JMP–L networked once again with the Coordinating Committee of Armenian Social Welfare Organizations in order to organize the annual Christmas gathering for the elderly who receive assistance from the organizations that are a part of the Coordinating Committee. The event was held on 17 January 2014, under the patronage of the leaders of the three Armenian Churches.

• On the occasion of Ascension Day, the Women’s Committee of the JMP–L Community Development Program organized a pilgrimage to Mount Harissa and to the Armenian Monastery in Bzommar. The participating women and their friends then had lunch at a restaurant in the mountains and also raised funds for their ongoing activities.

• A group of elderly, along with a JMP–L social worker and a volunteer nurse, had a trip to the Armenian Monastery in Bikfaya on 26 September 2014. They later had lunch at a restaurant in a mountainous village.

• On the occasion of Christmas and New Year, the Women’s Committee of the
  JMP–L Community Development
  Program organized a gathering for children on 26 December 2014 in the hall of the St. Sarkis Church. The event was attended by 200 children (each with a parent), mostly from the Bourj Hammoud municipal residential Gifts, entertainment, cookies and refreshment were offered thanks to donations from the Municipality of Bourj Hammoud, local businesses, individual donors, and the entry tickets at a nominal fee. For more information about the event (in Armenian), read the article published in Aztag Daily.

Written by Ms. Nora Parseghian, the article provided information on the history of JMP–L, its projects, its achievements and difficulties over the years, and the significance of fundraising to ensure the sustainability and diversity of its activities. The article included an interview with JMP–Lebanon Program Director, Mrs. Seta Pamboukian.

• Read the entire article published in The Aztag Daily.

Thus, medical and social centers have often become responsible for taking care of these people, the author writes. Among other organizations (such as Caritas–Lebanon and Mission de Vie), the article also makes reference to the work of the Jinishian Memorial Program–Lebanon, which provides assistance to 120 poor and lonely elderly people in the Bourj Hammoud area.

• Read the entire article published in The Daily Star.

Written by Samya Kullab, the article praised “the immaculate records of dispensary services at Jinishian, part of the Karagheusian Foundation,” and lamented the fact that they “are not the norm” among other dispensaries. More particularly, the author described how well-organized the Jinishian dispensary is:

“It is following carefully prescribed rules pertaining to the storage of pharmaceuticals products … Shelves upon shelves in the center’s storeroom display vigilantly stacked boxes of medications, most of them donated, to treat hypertension, gastro-ulcers, asthma, arthritis and glaucoma, among other illnesses. An online database keeps meticulous record of each patient, each prescription and each tablet of medication allotted.”

• Read the entire article published in The Daily Star.

> Read the report in Armenian (PDF, 368KB).

On Monday, March 16, 2010, the Armenian Catholicossate of the Holy See of Cilicia released a communiqué  in Armenian (below is its translation), in the Aztag Daily, about the visit of JMP Associate for Program Management Sara Todd and JMP–Lebanon Director Seta Pamboukian to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia, on March 15, 2010.

On Monday, March 15, 2010, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Holy See of Cilicia received “Jinishian” humanitarian foundation’s Director Sara Todd, accompanied by the Lebanon Program Director, Seta Pamboukian.

His Holiness expressed his appreciation of the “Jinishian” accomplishments, particularly in the Middle East.

While acknowledging the global financial crisis, His Holiness considered it necessary that churches and foundations like JMP should not sacrifice their priorities to other reconsiderations.

He requested that his dissatisfaction and concerns be conveyed to the Armenian and non-Armenian members of the Commission in the United States.

It is worth noting that “Jinishian” in its ecumenical spirit, assists all needy Armenian families without discrimination, and plays a great role in this regard in various Middle Eastern countries.